Cuticle guard



p 1952 E. M. LINTON 2,610,640

CUTICLE GUARD Filed Aug. 16, 1950 Patented Sept. 16, 1952 "HUNITEVD STATES PATENT OFFICE Earl M. Linton, Tampa,,Fla.

Application August 16, 1950, Serial No. 179,793

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a manicuring device and has for its primary object to provide a suitable guard which can be easily positioned upon the'end of a finger to expose the complete nail and at thesame time shield the cuticle so that paint can be properly applied to the finger nail without the possibility of having any of the paint get on thecuticle or the remainder of the finger.

} Another important object of this invention is to provide a cuticle guard which is relatively simple in design and construction, inexpensive, simple to manipulate, and very useful for its intended purpose. I Y I A further object of this invention is to provide a cuticle guard comprising a substantially U- shaped resilient bar the legs of which are nor-- mally tensioned to a spread apart position, each leg being twisted intermediate its ends, the web f portion being adapted to rest upon a finger nail andpress against a cuticle, and means for ad- Figure 2 is a top plan view of the guard shown positioned upon the finger nail;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 3+ of Figure 2; I Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modifiedform of a cuticle guard;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the modified cuticle guard shown positioned upon the end of a Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 6-6 of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 'is a perspective view of a third form of the invention.

Specific reference is now made to the drawings. In the several views in the accompanying drawings and in the following specification refer ence characters indicate corresponding elements throughout.

Referring first to the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 3, the cuticle guard come prises a substantially U-shaped resilient. bar l0 having leg portions [2 and i4 interconnected by a web portion I6, the leg portions I2 and I4 being normally tensioned in a spread apart position as shown clearly in Figure 1. Each of the leg portions I2 and I4 is twisted at two points [8 and 20 intermediate its ends in such a manner that'the portion 22 between the twists l8 and 20 is inclined outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the leg portions l2 and M. This twisting also inclines the web portion l6, as shown clearly in Figure 3, upwardly and toward the free ends of the leg portions [2 and I4. The upper edge 24 of one of the leg portions l4 includes longitudinally spaced serrations or seats 26 for a purpose soon to appear.

In use, the guard is positioned at the end of the finger 28 in such a manner that it rests upon the finger nail. 30 with the web portion l6 pressing against the cuticle 3'2 as shown clearly in Figures 2 and 3. When the leg portion I2 is crossed over on the leg portion [4 and the bottom edge 34 of the leg portion I2 is made to engage one of the notches or seats 26, the portions 20 between the twists l8 and 22 will'grippingly engage the sides of the nail as shown in Figure 2. By making the leg portion 12 selectively, engage one of the seats or notches 26, the cuticle can be adapted for attachment to' different sized nails as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the operation.

Referring to the modified form of the invention as shown in Figures 4 to 6, a relatively fiat holder 36 is provided which is adapted-to'underlie and support the finger '28 as shown clearlyin Figure 5, One end of the support 36 isbent upwardly as at 38 to provide a transverse portion 40, the ends of which are further provided with longitudinally extending sockets 42 and 44. I r

Removably received in the sockets 42 and are the free ends of the leg portions 46 and Y48 of a substantially U-sh aped resilient bar 50, the leg portionsbeing joined by a cuticle-engaging web portion 52. As in the case of the cuticle guard shown clearly in Figures 1 to 3, each of the leg portions 46 and 48 are twisted at two points 54 and 56 to provide portion 58 intermediate the twists which are outwardly inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the leg portions. The twists also produce a web portion 52 which is inclined upwardly and toward the free end portions of the legs 46 and 48.

In use, the cuticle guard shown in Figures 4 to 6, is positioned upon the finger as shown clearly in Figure 5. In order to adjustably tension the legs so that the portions 58 can be made to grippingly engage the sides of the nail 30, a comb-like or rake member 68 is provided which is positioned transversely on the holder 36, the member 60 having spaced depending teeth 62 between which are received the legs 46 and 48 as shown in Figure 6. By having different teeth engage the legs, the latter can be adjustably tensioned to grip nails of varying size.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fi ure 7, a relatively flat holder 64 is provided similar to the holder 36 and also adapted to underlie and support the finger. One edge 66 is rounded while the opposite edge is bent upwardly as at 68 to provide a socket member 19. Adjacent the bent portion 68, the opposite edge of the holder includes a vertically extending flange 12 having transversely spaced serrations or teeth 14. A resilient U-shaped bar It is provided having leg portions 18 and 80. The leg portions are twisted intermediate their ends as at 82 so that the cuticle engaging web portion 84 is inclined upwardly and toward the free ends of the leg portions. The free end of the leg portion 18 is retained in the socket member 10, whereas the leg portion 88 selectively engages the teeth M so that the bar 16 may be adjustably tensioned to grip nails of varying size. This form. of the invention'is used insubstantially the same manner as the modification shown in Figures 4-6. 'In:vijew-- of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed thata clear understanding of the device. willbe quite apparent to those skilled in this. art. A more detailed description. is. accordingly deemed unnecessary;

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment Of the. invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the. spirit of the invention as herein described and within the scope of the appended I claims.

Having described the. invention,

what is claimed as new is:

liA cuticle guard comprising a substantially U-shaped resilient bar the legs of which arenormallytensioned to a spaced apart position, each leg being twistedintermediate its ends and hav 'ing a medial portion between the twist point and the web portion of the bar which is inclined outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the leg,

said medial portions beingadapted to engage the side edges of a fingernail, the web portion having one of its edges adapted to rest upon a fingernail the web portion of the bar which is inclined outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the leg, said medial portions being adapted to engage the side edges of a fingernail, the web portion having one of its edges adapted to rest upon a fingernail and press against a cuticle, and means on said guard for adjustably securing the legs together to vary the distance between the medial portions of said legs, said means includinga holder removablysecured to said resilient bar and comprising a flat member, a rake member having a plurality of spaced teeth secured to said flat member and receiving the free ends of said legs. 3. A cuticle guard comprising a substantially U-shaped resilient bar the legs of which are normally tensioned to a spaced apart position, each leg being twisted intermediate its ends and having a medial portion between the twist point and the web portion of the bar which is inclined outwardly relative to the longitudinal axis of the leg, said medial portions being adapted to. engage. the side edges of a fingernail, the web portion having one of its-edges adapted to'rest'upon a fingernail and press against a cuticle, and meanson said guard for adjustably securing the legs together to vary the distance between the medial portions of said legs, said means including a holder removably secured to said resilient. bar and comprising a flat memberQa rake. member having a plurality of spaced teeth secured to said flat member and receiving the free ends of said legs, said rakebeing positioned transversely of said plate and selectively receiving the medial portions of said legs to adjustabl-y urge the latter together. 7 7

i. The combination of claim l wherein. said means includes longitudinally spaced notches through the upper edge of: one of said legs adapted to selectively engage the lower edge of the other leg when folded over upon said one leg.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means includes a holder comprisingv a flat member adapted to support a finger, a socket member at one end of said fiat member retaining the free end of one of said legs, and a serrated flange carried at said one end of said fiat member and adapted to selectively engage the other of said legs.

EARL M. LINTON.

. REFERENCES CITED l he following references are. of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Austin et a1. NOV. 5, 1940 

